So, there are some days on which the telephone wars rightfully fade into the background, at least for a while. It is probably fitting that President Reagan passed away on the eve of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, a day on which thousands of Americans charged onto beaches knowing full well they faced certain death in a fight for freedom's sake. And it was nearly 17 ago to the day that Reagan proclaimed: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Without the American freedom-loving spirit, D-Day would not have succeeded, and perhaps there never would have been an opportunity for Ronald Reagan to imbue America with his special brand of optimism. To my mind, President Reagan really did have a deep and abiding faith in progress and freedom, and their inextricable relationship.